Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-17
ELECTIONS IN TEXAS.
THE WASHINGTON INVESTIGATION OF THE
ALLEGED OUTRAGES.
Another. Chapter Of SsOsatiOns-TsstmOny Of the
Election 0ficers-Men Shot, Ballot Boxes
Stolen and the Vote SuppreSsed-ln-
tereStDg State Of Affairs


WASHINGTON, February l6.-Forty Ol
fifty gentlemen from Texas, white and col
ored, gathered in the Senate corridor neal
the room of the Committee on Privileges
and elections this morning, awaiting ex'
animation in respetc to the alleged polltl'
cal irregularities in Washington county,
Texas. Heretofore, when investigations
of this character have been undertaken by
Senate committees, it has been the prac'
tice TO open the doors to all cOmers-a
practice WEIGH has resulted in great incon'
venience to the committee by reason OF
miscellaneous crowds, formed largely OF
people who were impelled by curiosity
alone, to attend the sittings. The present
committee has decided as a general prin'
ciple to admit only the witnesses under
examination, the counsel on both sides
and the press. Ex-COngressman Giddings,
of Texas, was present this morning.
The cOlOred witness, Il. Nj. Jones, whose
examination was begun yesterday, was
again called to the stand. In reply to
Senator SpoOner he said his brother, aged
30 years, came to the voting place to bripg
witness his supper. The brOther-so far
as witness was aware-was not armed. lie
has since been hanged presumably for
connection with the election riOt-thOugh
this point was not deyelOped). lie was a
Republican.
WHY AN ELECTION WAS NOT HELD.
J. NJ. Nicholson, white, Gl years of age,
a planter, twenty years resident OF
Washington county, was next examined.
He was a Democrat until three years ago;
since when he has voted the Peoples
ticket. He was appointed manager of the
election at Chadwick's gin house, but
being i'll he was requested to select some
good man to serve in his stead. For this
purpose he attended the polls and re-
mained all day.
Question by Senator SpOoner-"Was
there an election there that day.
''No, sir"
"Well, why? Won't you explain that?'
"Well, am almost ashamed to state
couldn't get anyone who could write.
There were three or four who could write,
but they didn't wish to serve"
Witness explained that there were be-
tween ninety and nincty-iive voters, forty
five of whom were white. Thirty OF the
latter were POlanders. Most of the white
property owners of the precinct lived in an
other precinct.
TWO MEN SHOT AND a BALLOT BON
STOLEN.
In reply to Senator SpOOner, witness
said that at the last election prior to that
which was the subject of investigation,
serious trouble had occurred ut Chapel
Hill, when two men, one being an election
officer, were shot. The ballot box was
taken and the vote suppressed. Witness
did not think that this occurrence had the
effect of lettering the cOlored men at
ChadwicEs from serving rs election officers.
There were only four of the freedmen who
could write. Two were not present and
one of the others had been in the penitcn-
tiary and for that reason was not cOmpe-
tent. The voters were present but repeat
ed efforts to organize board failed.
Witness said he announced that about
ten O'Clock i'll the morning that there
would he no vote hut later he said he
misunderstood the question and that it was
about that time he announced his readiness
to deliver the papers whenevera competent
board should be organized.
ONLY FOUR ABLE TO READ.
In reply to Senator Eustis, witness said
the vote of the precinct was about evenly
divided. The Republicans might have Il
majority Of four or five. No one had de-
Clined to serve by reason of fear of personal
injury. Only four of the white voters of
the precinct could read and write English,
and they were prevented from serving by
| illness or business.
In answer to Senator Spoouer, witness
said he thought no one was punished Tor
the Chapel Hill outrage-no one knew who
did it. In answer to Senator EustiS, wit
ness said Mr.. J. l.. Moore lone of the
memOrialists to Congress- was Sheriff at
the time of the Chapel Hill outrage.
The committee then took a recess until
three this afternoon.
After the recess, Lewis p. Pennington
! (colored). was called to the witness chair.
lie is voter at Flewellyn's precinct; was
one of the Judges of election last Novem-
Der. lie told the story of the
ASSAULT UPON THE ELECTION OFFICERS
by three armed masked men, who demand
ed and took away the ballot box, the
shooting of Devices Bolton, one of the
raiders, and the subsequent hanging OF
Ephraim Jones, Alfred Jones and Sued
| IN.l
| Upon crOSS-examination Senator Eustis
read the deposition of witness before the
CorOner's inquest, in which witness said
he did not see any men coming into the
door disguised and with pistols, and he sal
where he could see both doors.
"Is that statement correct?" asked Sen
ator Eustis.
well, no sir, that isn't"
''Well, in what respect is that incOr'
rect?"
"Well, there was dOuble-barreled shot
guns and pistols round thar (at the coro
ner's inquest till was
| JEST NATURALLY 'FRAID,
to tell the truth.
On redirect examination by Senator
SDOOner, witness said the colOred people
voted the Republican ticket except when
they were scared up to vote the people, 5
ticket"
Felix KinlOw (colored) described the
raid at Flewellyn's his own flight, his
arrest with eight other colored men next
day and incarceration for n month, and
the entry into the Jail OF mob
of armed and disguised men, who
took out Sned Felden and witness,
father-in- law and cousin and hanged them.
On cross examination witness, with con-
siderable hesitation, testified that he heard
that Polk Hill killed Davis Bolton.
Wm. Shaw (cOlored) testified that the
ballot box at Graball polling place was
seized by armed and disguised white men.
Adjourned till tomorrow.